According to Michael Bates three early 20th century Plains Commercial buildings on this site were pulled down by Arvest in the early 2000s (I couldn't find out if that included the buildings Peacock, Babyland and Megee's were located in.) Buildings being torn down in the name of “progress” and “urban renewal” is a story Tulsans know all too well (Greenwood, anyone?) Even so, that doesn’t make it any less disheartening to look at picture after picture of the vibrant downtown Tulsa once had and see what has been lost. But hey, Tulsa won the Golden Crater award for most surface parking so we got that goin’ for us.  

Part two of my trip down Main Street coming soon. 

The above photo of Peacock Jewelers is one of my favorite images of Downtown Tulsa. While I knew both the sign and business were gone I had high hopes that the building was still standing. After a bit of searching I found the exact address and as I read it my heart sank: 518 S. Main Street. Driving to 6th and Main confirmed what I already knew: the buildings were gone, replaced with a parking lot. 

The two buildings next to the McFarlin Building in the 1943 photo were torn down around 2003 to make room for a parking lot. 

Some may remember the failed "Main Mall" experiment of the late 1970's. Lost Tulsa has a great photo set of the former pedestrian mall. The street was reopened to traffic around 2003/2004.

When I started photographing Tulsa back in 2007 Downtown was just starting to be redeveloped. It has been exciting to watch all the changes as they happen, especially in the Brady District. 

In 2012 the Fairfield became the first hotel opened in the Brady District. Now in addition to the hotel there are two restaurants (Laffa and Prhyme) and two bars (Mainline and Zin). As the photo of Main Street and Archer in the 1940's shows Downtown Tulsa still has a lot of redevelopment potential but it is on the right track!

In addition to hosting thousands of performances Brady Theater also played a part in the Tulsa Race Riot of 1921 as it was used to detain black men rounded up by the National Guard. This shameful portion of Tulsa’s history was covered up for many years. An article from This Land newspaper recounted the life of the namesake of Brady Theater Tate Brady and his alleged role in the 1921 race riot. For more information on the Tulsa Race Riot check out Riot and Remembrance: The Tulsa Race War and its Legacy by James S. Hirsch.